Karnataka High Court Deliberates on Yediyurappa's POCSO Case Petition
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Synopsis
The Karnataka High Court has reserved judgment on B.S. Yediyurappa's petition to dismiss POCSO charges against him. The case arises from allegations of sexual harassment by the former Chief Minister, who denies the accusations and claims political motivations behind them.
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka High Court reserves judgment on Yediyurappa's POCSO plea.
- Arguments concluded; interim stay on proceedings extended.
- Allegations stem from a complaint by the mother of a minor.
- Yediyurappa maintains the charges are politically motivated.
- CID submitted a charge sheet detailing the allegations.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Karnataka High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition submitted by former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa, aiming to quash charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) case.
The bench, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, made its decision after finishing the arguments and counterarguments presented in the case. It also prolonged the interim stay on proceedings against Yediyurappa until the verdict is announced.
The prosecution contended that Yediyurappa’s petition to dismiss the case was premeditated, as it was filed following the death of the victim’s mother, who had initially lodged the complaint.
Senior counsel C.V. Nagesh, representing Yediyurappa, countered that his client was unaware of the complainant's death, stating that he was not all-knowing. He urged the court to consider the 45-day interval between the alleged incident and the filing of the FIR.
The counsel also raised questions about the complainant's reliability, indicating her alleged pattern of filing multiple FIRs against high-ranking IAS, IPS, and government officials.
This case originated from an FIR filed at the Sadashivanagar police station in Bengaluru by the mother of a minor girl, accusing Yediyurappa of sexual harassment.
The former Chief Minister has denied these accusations, asserting that the charges are not influenced by political motives and that he is prepared to confront legal proceedings.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the case, submitted a charge sheet on June 27, 2024, to a special fast-track court.
As per the charge sheet, Yediyurappa, alongside three other individuals, faces charges under the POCSO Act and various sections of the IPC, including 354(A) (sexual harassment), 204 (destruction of documents or electronic records), and 214 (offering bribes to conceal an offence).
The charge sheet claims that on February 2, 2024, the complainant went to Yediyurappa’s residence seeking help regarding a sexual assault on her 17-year-old daughter. It alleges that Yediyurappa took the girl into a room, locked it, and sexually harassed her.
The victim resisted and exited the room. Subsequently, Yediyurappa allegedly declined to assist them.
Furthermore, the charge sheet states that when the victim posted photos and videos of the incident on social media, Yediyurappa summoned them to his residence through intermediaries and provided them with Rs 2 lakh in cash. It alleges that he subsequently had the media files removed from social media and the phone gallery.
The victim's mother passed away on May 26, 2024, due to health complications in Bengaluru.
Yediyurappa has strongly refuted these claims, stating, “A mother and daughter were found near my residence, appearing distressed. Out of compassion, I called them to inquire about their situation. I even contacted the Bengaluru Police Commissioner to assist them. However, they began making accusations against me. Despite this, I provided them financial assistance. I will confront these charges in court.”
The BJP has accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of utilizing this case to distract from corruption allegations related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam and the Tribal Welfare Development Board scam.
